PLY article index

This article looks at various options for spinning a yarn that will add drape to crochet projects using a Leicester Longwool fleece. It explores blending the wool with Suri alpaca as well as Tussah silk in varying proportions to create a yarn with the drape of the wool with the shine and softness of the other fibers. The author crocheted each blend into a swatch and compared the results.

This article explores how blending milk fiber can increase the drape of other fibers: Merino, alpaca, Rambouillet, rose, Tencel, and silk. It discusses blending and spinning each of these combinations and the drape results of each, using knit swatches.

This article experiments with how fiber selection and twist play a role in designing yarns with drape. It starts with a discussion of crimp and how that affects drape and moves into describing how the fleeces uses were prepared and spun. Fibers used are Corriedale and Lincoln.

Knitting pattern for two versions of a cowl, using the same variation of the feather and fan pattern, differing only in the number of stitch pattern and round repeats to determine the circumference and height of each design, plus the addition of Japanese seed beads to the gradient version.

This article looks at various fibers and experiments with spinning them to test which has the most drape. Fibers used are EZ Spin Acala cotton, Cormo, Corriedale, Romney, Southdown, yak, mohair, Huacaya alpaca, flax, and Tussah silk. Comparison includes grist, crimp and slickness, and a hang test (shown in photos).

This article describes one of the yarns spun for the cowl project (pattern included in this issue). It is a blend of hemp and Targhee, spun with a short forward draft, and spun as a 2-ply yarn.

This article experiments with blending hemp and wool, starting with discussing the actual blending by using a drum carder. The author created blends of varying proportion of fibers and then spun each blend and describes the spinning and finishing methods. Finally, the author compares the final results of the yarns and knit swatches to see which swatches provided the most drape. The wools tested along with hemp are Florida Cracker and Targhee.

This article looks at some of the choices you can make to encourage drape in your yarns: preparing the fiber, spinning and plying and yarn, and finishing. For example yarns/swatches, fibers used are Cormo, alpaca, and a blend of the two fibers.

Many factors come into play when creating a yarn that will drape, but this article focuses on drafting as a factor. It first examines the prep and the drafting techniques used and then runs through some example yarns and swatches to determine which options provided the most drape. It also discusses making sure that you don’t get more drape than you really need.

What do you do when you plan to spin a yarn for a project that needs drape but find the yarn doesn’t drape as you expected? This article discusses what might have happened to lead your yarn to lack the drape you wanted it to have. It looks at fiber choice, prep, spinning style, and twist as well as the gauge of your project.

Each of the authors describes the yarn they spun for the most drape. It includes silk; a blend of a fine fiber such as cashmere, camel, alpaca, or Merino and silk; a blend of yak and silk; a blend of superfine alpaca, Falklands Merino, and mulberry silk; and a blend of alpaca, Merino, and silk.

The author juxtaposes living in Brooklyn with the slow craft of spinning, including considerations of mindfulness, community, and environment. The article also describes the yarn the author created to define his place in his world.

Twist should never be in your fiber supply. Instead, it should be either in between your hands or not in between your hands. This article explains the difference between the two and how they relate to spinning worsted and woolen yarns. It also describes how to spin each way and how it affects your yarn.

This infographic provides information on the various countries where plants fibers are grown (both fibers for spinning and for dyeing).

This article provides tips and tricks for spinning in an environment with hot temperatures.

This article describes how to spin the yarn used in the crochet top project (pattern in this issue). First, it explores blend options for a top to wear in a warm environment (flax, hemp/cotton blend) and explains what fiber was chosen.

Pattern for crochet top in 14 sizes, easily customizable with a simple construction and no seams.

The author describes her experience using the Harvest Hosts community to find overnight stays during a road trip, including a cotton farm, and alpaca farm and mill, and a pecan farm with sheep and alpaca.

Visiting a fleece auction for the first time can be intimidating for the anxious spinner. This article is meant to help make that first visit to a fleece market a little easier by helping you know what to expect.

The author shares the history of the Estes Park Wool Market (in Colorado) and personal reflection on the event.

This article describes the development of the sheep breeds that were designed and bred by Agriculture Canada in the second half of the twentieth century: Rideau Arcott, Canadian Arcott, Outaouais Arcott. The author then experiments with spinning each of these breeds.

This article explores the history behind Neighborhood Fiber Co in Baltimore, Maryland, and how important community is to the company.

The author describes spinning a gradient yarn that incorporates the colors of a favorite sunset picture using BFL/silk fiber from Neighborhood Fiber Company.

Weaving pattern for a table runner using a gradient yarn for the warp and a twill structure to highlight the gradient.